Boot, especially ski boot or snowboard boot

ABSTRACT

A boot is disclosed having at least two fastening devices, including lacing systems, and a boot body. The boot body has an upper zone for at least partially enclosing a wearer&#39;s calf and shin; a lower zone for at least partially enclosing the wearer&#39;s forefoot; and a middle zone located between the upper zone and the lower zone, which encloses the wearer&#39;s heel and ankle joint. The middle zone can be fastened, by being laced with one of the lacing systems, independently of the upper zone and independently of the lower zone.

The invention relates to a boot, especially a ski boot or snowboard boot, according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

Such boots are known from the prior art and are used in various fields of sport, mention being made, for example, of mountain climbing, skiing and snowboarding. An important feature of such boots is that in use the boot ensures secure support, the boot enclosing both the forefoot and the heel as well as at least part of the shin and the calf.

Such a boot is known, for example, from DE 10 2007 002 367.9, that boot offering good support provided that the boot is closed completely. However, it has been found to be disadvantageous that the boot offers low flexibility and, in addition, when optimum support is provided in the heel region, a forefoot region and shin and calf region may possibly be constricted.

The object of the invention is to solve the problems mentioned above and to provide a boot, especially a ski boot or snowboard boot, which on the one hand offers optimum support, especially in the heel region of a foot, and additionally ensures that a forefoot region and/or a calf or shin region are not constricted, while the boot nevertheless offers high stability while at the same time being flexible.

That object is achieved by a boot according to patent claim 1.

In particular, the object is achieved by a boot, especially a ski boot or snowboard boot, having at least two fastening devices, especially lacing systems, and a boot body having an upper zone for at least partially enclosing a wearer's calf and shin, a lower zone for at least partially enclosing the wearer's forefoot, and a middle zone located between the upper zone and the lower zone, which encloses the wearer's heel and ankle joint, wherein the middle zone can be fastened, especially laced, independently of the upper zone and independently of the lower zone.

An important aspect of the invention is firstly that the boot body has different zones, namely an upper zone for at least partially enclosing a wearer's calf and shin and a lower zone for at least partially enclosing the wearer's forefoot, as well as a middle zone arranged between those two zones, that is to say between the upper zone and the lower zone, which encloses the wearer's heel and ankle joint, wherein the middle zone is disconnected from the upper and lower zones in such a manner that the middle zone can be fastened, drawn together or loosened and especially laced independently of the upper zone and independently of the lower zone. A further important feature of the invention is further that the boot according to the invention is equipped with at least two fastening devices, or tightening devices, which are preferably in the form of lacing systems, at least one fastening device, preferably lacing system, being associated with the middle zone so that the middle zone can be closed or opened using a fastening device provided specifically for that zone, namely especially a lacing system provided for that middle zone. Because the middle zone encloses both the heel and the ankle joint of the wearer completely or at least partially, it is possible by lacing the middle zone to ensure that a foot located in the boot can be secured in the shoe in the optimum manner and finds optimum support in the shoe because, by means of optimum lacing that is adapted to an individual foot, the foot can be positioned perfectly in the heel region and the ankle joint region of the shoe and secured and held there in a manner that is comfortable for the wearer.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the boot body is divided between the upper zone and the middle zone and also between the lower zone and the middle zone with the formation of a flexible region, the flexible region also being referred to as the flex region.

By dividing, or separating, the upper zone from the middle zone and by correspondingly dividing, or separating, the lower zone from the middle zone it is possible in an extremely advantageous manner to use those three zones independently of one another when enclosing a wearer's foot and his calf and shin, it being possible, for example, to achieve securing and comfortable support of a foot in the boot according to the invention by lacing the middle zone, which encloses the wearer's heel and ankle joint, while the upper zone, which at least partially encloses a wearer's calf and shin, and the lower zone, which at least partially encloses the wearer's forefoot, can be fastened and opened wholly independently of one another and especially independently of the middle zone, which is associated with the wearer's heel and ankle joint.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the upper zone and the lower zone can be fastened, that is to say preferably laced, jointly by means of a single fastening device, preferably using a single lacing system. It is advantageously possible according to this embodiment, in addition to rapid and simple securing of a foot in the boot according to the invention by means of the middle zone of the boot body, also to enclose the wearer's calf and shin and his forefoot with the upper zone and the lower zone, respectively, of the boot body and to fit those two zones of the boot body snugly or loosely, as desired, to the wearer's leg and forefoot. In that manner, the boot according to the invention can be put on quickly and rendered functional by fastening the middle zone, while a wearer's leg and forefoot can be enclosed separately and simply in an individually adjustable, desired manner.

According to an alternative variant of the invention it is likewise possible that the upper zone and the lower zone can be tightened and fastened, especially laced, independently of one another by means of independent fastening devices, especially lacing systems. According to this alternative form of embodiment of the invention, both the upper zone and the lower zone of the boot body have an associated individual fastening device, which in turn is in the form of a lacing system. According to this variant embodiment, it is thus possible in an advantageous manner to choose an independent lacing tightness for each zone of the boot body, the flexible region between the different zones ensuring that a force transmission through a particular lacing system actually only takes place substantially to the zone associated with the lacing system in question.

It should be mentioned here that the materials of the individual zones of the boot body can be adapted independently of one another to the best possible wearing comfort, it being possible as an alternative also to use identical materials for two or even all three zones. It should further be noted that the boot body can be in the form of a shell, for example, which then in turn has the above-mentioned flex regions.

It is further within the scope of the invention that the stiffness of the boot is adjustable by means of a tongue which optionally has reinforcements, the stiffness of the boot likewise being adjustable by means of preferably different lacings and lacing tightnesses in the upper zone and the lower zone, the lacing and lacing tightness for the middle zone serving to secure the foot in the boot, or shoe, in the optimum manner.

Because optimum support of the foot in the boot is achieved by lacing of the middle zone, it is accordingly possible by loosely lacing especially the upper zone, but also the lower zone, to ensure a high freedom of movement while at the same time having good heel support and stabilising the ankle joint, with the result, for example, that specific maneuvers, for example in snowboarding, are made possible and, in addition, the riding comfort is increased.

Further embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the subsidiary claims.

The invention will be described below on the basis of two exemplary embodiments, which are explained in greater detail on the basis of the figures, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic representation of a first embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 2 shows a diagrammatic representation of a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a boot according to the invention, namely a snowboard boot, having a boot body 20, the shell of which is divided into a middle zone 1, a lower zone 2.1 and an upper zone 2.2. Between the middle zone 1 and the upper zone 2.2 and between the middle zone 1 and the lower zone 2.1 there is in each case a flexible region 30, which is referred to as the flex region. The boot 10 according to the invention further has on its front side a tongue 40. According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a lacing system 50 a is associated with the middle zone 1, with which lacing system 50 a the boot 10 according to the invention can be secured and laced in the region of a wearer's heel and ankle joint in order to secure and hold the wearer's heel and ankle joint in the boot 10 and thus ensure that a wearer of the boot 10 has an optimum seat in the shoe, or boot. In summary, the construction of the boot according to FIG. 1 can be described as follows:

The boot construction consists of 3 zones. Zone 1 encloses the heel and ankle joint, zone 2.1 encloses the forefoot, and zone 2.2 encloses the calf/shin region (shaft). Between zone 1 and zone 2.1 and between zone 1 and zone 2.2 there is a division of the shell, which serves as the flex region. Each zone can be laced separately as required. Zone 1 serves to secure the foot in the shoe, and the fit, flex and comfort can be controlled by way of the lacing zones 2.1 and 2.2.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 1, zones 2.1 and 2.2 are laced by means of one lace (lacing system); zone 1 is laced separately. The stiffness of the boot can be controlled by way of the tongue. The stiffness of the tongue can optionally be changed by means of additional reinforcements (TPS shield or the like).

The 3-part division of the boot is so designed that the heel zone (1) is separate from the forefoot zone (2.1) and the shaft zone (2.2) and is laced separately. By means of that construction, zone 1 supports the heel and thereby stabilises the ankle joint. That means that the most important function of a snowboard boot: heel support and stabilisation of the ankle joint, is ensured by the lacing of one zone. That means that, when zone 1 is laced, the boot is already ready for use and fully functional. The separate lacing of the forefoot zone and of the shaft zone serves to increase the comfort and to further improve the fit. In addition, the stiffness of the boot can be changed by way of the lacing of zones 2.1 and 2.2; loose lacing means a softer flex, tight lacing ensures a stiffer flex.

Because the stabilisation of the heel is ensured by zone 1, the boot as a whole can be made softer, with the result that better freedom of movement is ensured with the same level of heel support, which increases the trick potential and the riding comfort.

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of a boot 10 according to the invention having a boot body 20 which is in the form of a shell and is divided into a middle zone 1, a lower zone 2 and an upper zone 3, between which there are flexible regions 30. For lacing the middle zone 1 there is provided a lacing system 50 a, by means of which the middle zone 1 can be laced around a wearer's foot so that his heel and ankle joint are secured firmly in the boot 10. According to this embodiment, a further lacing system 50 c′ is provided for fastening the lower zone 2, which lacing system 50 c′ extends from the lower zone 2 over the tongue 40 to a grip element of the lacing system 50 c′. It should be mentioned here that the lacing systems 50 a of zone 1, 50 b of zone 2.1 and 2.2 and the lacing system 50 c″ of zone 3 can also have such a grip element in order to facilitate lacing of the boot 10, or of the particular zones with which the lacing systems are associated. As mentioned above, according to the embodiment of FIG. 2 a specific lacing system 50 c″ is accordingly associated with the upper zone 3, with which lacing system 50 c″ the upper zone 3 can be fastened independently and separately from the middle zone 1 and the lower zone 2.

In summary, the embodiment of FIG. 2 is accordingly as follows:

The boot construction consists of 3 zones. Zone 1 encloses the heel and ankle joint, zone 2 encloses the forefoot, and zone 3 encloses the calf/shin region (shaft). Between zone 1 and zone 2 and between zone 1 and zone 3 there is a division of the shell, which serves as the flex region. Each zone can be laced separately as required. Zone 1 serves to secure the foot in the shoe, and the fit, flex and comfort can be controlled by way of the lacing zones 2 and 3.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 2, the forefoot (zone 2) is laced by means of a lace (lacing system) on the inside of the boot, the heel (zone 1) is laced separately on the outside, and the shaft (zone 3) is laced over the tongue; all 3 zones can be laced separately from one another with different tightnesses. The stiffness of the boot can be controlled by way of the tongue. The stiffness of the tongue can optionally be changed by means of additional reinforcements (TPS shield or the like).

The 3-part division of the boot is so designed that the heel zone (1) is separate from the forefoot zone (2) and the shaft zone (3) and is laced separately. By means of that construction, zone (1) supports the heel and thereby stabilises the ankle joint. That means that the most important function of a snowboard boot: heel support and stabilisation of the ankle joint, is ensured by the lacing of one zone. That means that, when zone 1 is laced, the boot is already ready for use and fully functional. The separate lacing of the forefoot zone and of the shaft zone serves to increase the comfort and to further improve the fit. In addition, the stiffness of the boot can be changed by way of the lacing of zones 2 and 3; loose lacing means a softer flex, tight lacing ensures a stiffer flex.

Because the stabilisation of the heel is ensured by zone 1, the boot as a whole can be made softer, with the result that better freedom of movement is ensured with the same level of heel support, which increases the trick potential and the riding comfort.

It should be pointed out here that all the parts described above are claimed as being fundamental to the invention on their own and in any combination, especially the details shown in the drawings. Modifications thereof are familiar to the person skilled in the art.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   1 middle zone -   2 lower zone -   2.1 lower zone -   2.2 upper zone -   3 upper zone -   10 boot -   20 boot body -   30 flexible region -   40 tongue -   50 a lacing system (zone 1) -   50 b lacing system (zone 2.1, 2.2) -   50 c′ lacing system (zone 2) -   50 c″ lacing system (zone 3) 

1. A boot, having at least two fastening devices including lacing systems, and a boot body comprising: an upper zone for at least partially enclosing a wearer's calf and shin; a lower zone for at least partially enclosing the wearer's forefoot; and a middle zone located between the upper zone and the lower zone, which encloses the wearer's heel and ankle joint, wherein the middle zone can be fastened, by being laced with one of the lacing systems, independently of the upper zone and independently of the lower zone.
 2. A boot according to claim 1, wherein: the boot body is divided between the upper zone and the middle zone and between the lower zone and the middle zone by a flexible region.
 3. A boot according to claim 1, wherein: the upper zone and the lower zone can be fastened, by being laced, jointly by means of a single fastening device, comprising one of the lacing systems (50 b).
 4. A boot according claim 1, wherein: the upper zone and the lower zone can be fastened, by being laced, independently of one another by means of independent fastening devices, comprising two of the lacing systems.
 5. A boot having a first lacing system and a boot body comprising: an upper zone for at least partially enclosing a wearer's calf and shin; a lower zone for at least partially enclosing the wearer's forefoot; and a middle zone located between the upper zone and the lower zone, which encloses the wearer's heel and ankle joint, the middle zone being capable of being laced with the first lacing system, independent of the upper zone and independently of the lower zone.
 6. A boot according to claim 5, wherein the upper zone and the lower zone can be laced jointly by means of a second lacing system.
 7. A boot according to claim 5, wherein the upper zone and the lower zone can be laced independently of one another by second and third lacing systems.
 8. A boot according to claim 5, wherein the boot body comprises a first flexible region between the upper zone and the middle zone and a second flexible region between the lower zone and the middle zone.
 9. A boot according to claim 1, wherein: a stiffness of the boot is adjustable by means of a tongue which has reinforcements.
 10. A boot according to claim 1, wherein: a stiffness of the boot is adjustable by means of lacings in the upper zone and the lower zone.
 11. A boot according to claim 5, wherein: a stiffness of the boot is adjustable by means of a tongue which has reinforcements.
 12. A boot according to claim 5, wherein: a stiffness of the boot is adjustable by means of lacings in the upper zone and the lower zone. 